Today in class, we ended by briefly discussing academic achievement disparities between Black, White, and Hispanic students. In response, genetics and socio-economics were suggested as the response. To briefly cover this point because I failed to in class; arguing genetics is the reason for White academic achievement reflects the views of most White supremacists and cannot be considered credible research. Furthermore, I found it interesting that Asians were excluded from the discussion of genetics and academic achievement; as Asians statistically achieve higher than any other race. When Asian academic achievement was discussed, the conversation focused on the stereotype of "demanding Asian parenting" rather than superior Asian genes (I am also aware no one overtly argued Whites have superior genes, but I believe Joe said genetics were the reason for academic disparities) Furthermore, while socio-economics and parental education does factor into academic achievement, when controlling for economic status, academic achievement disparities between Black and White students still exist (and in this event Asian students still have the highest GPA).
In Roslyn Arlin Mickelson’s article The Attitude-Achievement Paradox Among Black Adolescent, Mickelson argues the academic - achievement disparity attributes to African American students having a lack of faith in the American education system and job market due to past experiences. In essence, Mickelson believes Black students withdraw from their studies because they feel they will not be fairly compensated for academic success.
Scholars such as Frederick Douglass, Malcolm X, Theresa Perry, John Ogbu, and Temple's own Molefi Asante and Nathaniel Norment (to name a few), would take Mickelson's research a step further. The aforementioned teachers argue that the absence of African and African American culture and perspective from American society and curricula inherently puts African Americans (and African American students) at a distinct disadvantage. The absence of African culture and perspective from American society "teaches" Black students (and people)from the perspective of the oppressor,who in order to establish their dominance taught Africans (from enslavement on) everything about their culture was inferior to European culture. Until Black students are reflected in curricula, and taught from the Afrocentric world view, academic achievement disparities will exist.
Nevertheless, despite the Eurocentric societal and academic frame that we are forced to operate from, Asians still are the highest academic achievers. To explain this, I cite John Ogbu. In Ogbu's article, "Black Students’ Success: Coping with the ‘Burden of ‘acting White,'" Ogbu explains three classifications of minorities: autonomous (minorities in the numerical sense), immigrants (those who voluntarily moved to America in hopes of improved social status, economic status or political status), and subordinate minorities (those who were involuntarily and permanently incorporated into American society through enslavement or conquest). Using Ogbu's classification, Asian Americans are immigrant minorities. While immigrant minorities are not immune from racism, they do have a different American experience. Consequently, they do not harbor the same doubt in the egalitarian dream America falsely promotes and are less likely to withdraw from their studies due to lack of faith in the American system as subordinate minorities are.
I agree with you that research to support white supremacy is not credible and for the following reason: the research that said that "white" people even exist as a people is not credible. Recently Newt Gingrich said the Palestinians were a created people, but this is absolutely true in terms of the idea of "white" people. Johan Blumenbach created the idea of races and it was used to justify enslavement, but it has no basis in real science. White people are a socially created idea just as the different life outcomes for different groups of people are socially created (i.e. physical, financial, social power). Race was created to justify oppression so it looks to me as though it is playing its position in the discussion you are describing. Nice post.
ReplyDeleteJob well done. Continue to speak out!
ReplyDeleteKufere, I think you effectively raised an interesting point in terms of African Americans in American popular culture. I certainly agree with your argument that African Americans' exposure to other African Americans' successes aids in the development of future African American leaders. However, I respectfully disagree with the idea that African Americans are not exposed to outlets pushing them to succeed.
ReplyDeleteOn June 14, 2011, a conference called "A Strong Start: Positioning Young Black Boys for Educational Success." This conference attracted more than 350 leaders in the American Education field. This article stresses the fact that "not all students are ready, and that an achievement gap exists when [African American] children start school" (Policy Notes 3). Regardless of the reasons, of which this article raises most frequently is poverty, this article stresses the importance for a change in how African Americans are educated. That being said, whether the cause is genetic, environmental, or a lack of exposure to successful African Americans, change is necessary. American education has begun the process to enact such change with the development of programs, including The National Black College Fund and raised awareness of Historically Black Colleges. Clearly, young African Americans are not being schooled properly and something must be done to eliminate the cause, whatever it may be.
https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:K13CtqNPgh8J:www.ets.org/Media/Research/pdf/PIC-PNV19n3.pdf+black+teens+and+success+in+school&hl=en&gl=us&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESgbkdjnw5kedMuFd2B6SLoLiaDwH462BlWXWV1xyC8MmVnXqv27vsDPMQIgomNPneEuURJ442W7w5ZhooSrsbCBTYdHVV7fIhkCuDJyFFT1Km8sg8ayrOnH095eIkcNxx1cMc_B&sig=AHIEtbR6RUr9In-lVAEAZcLJ_rrNd7RhZw
I remember reading Signithia Fordham's article "Racelessness as a Factor in Black Students' School Success: Pragmatic Strategy or Pyrrhic Victory?" http://her.hepg.org/content/c5r77323145r7831/ when I was a freshman in college, that's when I began thinking about this. I teach in an 95% majority white school/district and I see this in the few African American students who are in my school. Hell I remember it when I was in school...I also see that many of my college educated successful friends, can't duplicate their own academic success in their children. Their children have the best of everything but are doing mediocre at best in schools with white children.
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